Our country needs the growth and opportunities HS2 will bring

Less than two weeks ago, I became the first female Muslim minister to stand and speak at the despatch box in the House of Commons.

Many people have asked how I felt at this auspicious moment, a ready-made pub-quiz question for years to come. Although perhaps only for those who really pay attention to Hansard.

In all honesty, as I sat on the famous front row of green benches answering questions about how best to get young girls engaged with engineering and reducing tolls on the Severn crossing, the notion of making a small piece of history was the last of my concerns.

It was only later that day, scrolling through my phone, that I caught a sense of what it all meant.

In any…

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